In Balloonacy, at children’s theater Imagination Stage, a scarlet balloon drifts into a muted, monotonous world — and in its wake, laughter, levity, and life return. The wordless production transforms a familiar story into a living canvas of movement and color, using physical storytelling and visual invention to celebrate the power of play. Kids are hooked instantly. Adults? Well… we notice the meticulous timing, inventive staging, and the understated wit and poignancy threading through every moment. And honestly? I went in thinking this show was for the kids — turns out, it wasn’t.
Inspired by the beloved film The Red Balloon, and Albert Lamorisse’s book of the same name, playwright Barry Kornhauser tells the story of an old man living in a drab Paris apartment whose quiet life is upended when a balloon arrives on his birthday — a mischievous companion determined to join him. He resists at first. When he finally relents, hijinks follow, along with a series of small mishaps.
What gives this simple premise its emotional pull is the close collaboration between playwright, director, performer, and puppeteer. Director Janet Stanford threads space, timing, and design into a unified vision, leaving generous room for movement and discovery while shaping the performance so that every pause, gesture, and drift of the balloon carries meaning.
The minimal set and muted palette let the balloon’s red hue dominate. Scenic and costume designer Debra Kim Sivigny paints a picture of the old man’s colorless and spare gray living quarters, the personal sphere of a thoroughly self-contained individual living without frills except for the painting of the Mona Lisa on his wall calendar (with days crossed off one by one), and a vase on his table set for one. The old man’s apartment is gray, and his clothing is gray. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and other landmarks are pictured in outline in the far distance, implying that the old man’s life is separate and apart from all that Paris gaiety. He lived a dull and predictable life, that is, until the balloon appeared.
Tori Boutin and Robert Pike’s sound and music — from an accordion’s nostalgic opening strains to a ukulele’s gentle finale — underscore and punctuate the mood.
Rather than explaining emotions, the production lets them unfold through action — guided jointly by the actor’s responsiveness, the puppeteer’s precise control, and the director’s orchestration. From start to finish, it’s clear that this is a piece built on shared craft, where performance, puppetry, design, and sound work together to bring the story to life.
That collaboration is most visible in Matthew Pauli’s performance. (Pauli, an accomplished physical performer, is also credited as puppet coach and props designer.) Pauli’s artistry lies not only in physical exactitude, but in his openness — to timing, to space, to the balloon, and to the audience itself. He beautifully performs the old man’s resistance and the balloon’s persistence. Facial expressions register before thought, body control turns near-misses into moments of discovery, and pauses are allowed to breathe. He listens — to the balloon’s movements, to the puppeteer’s cues, and even to children in the audience, folding shouted warnings and instructions into the rhythm of the scene. A tipped hat, a mock gasp, a carefully timed stumble — each small choice builds character and deepens the relationship, making the balloon’s presence feel both mischievous and essential.
And the balloon itself — oh, the balloon — is where that collaboration becomes unmistakable. Pauli and puppeteer Enzo J. Leone make it live, breathe, misbehave, charm, and delight. Leone’s obvious technical acumen ensures every tilt, drift, and pop is seamless, giving the balloon a life that feels effortless yet exact.
You believe in it. You want it to win, to annoy, to stick around. And you want the old man to embrace it!
Balloonacy is a gem of theatrical artistry, brimming with invention and heart. Messy, funny, magical, and deeply human, it lingers long after it ends — you leave smiling, still thinking about the red balloon, and the old man who refused to let life stay quiet.
Running Time: Approximately one hour with no intermission.
Balloonacy plays through February 15, 2026, at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda MD. Tickets ($21.50) can be purchased online, in person at Imagination Stage’s box office, or by calling the box office at 301-280-1660.
Best for all ages.
Balloonacy
By Barry Kornhauser
Directed by Janet Stanford
CAST
Matthew Pauli: The Old Man
Enzo J. Leone: Puppeteer
